The piano, personified

As I commented in my previous blog, the thing I liked most about Shine was the central image of the piano throughout the entire film. It is not only something that David Helfgott does; it is a part of his personality. Even more, it is the main part of his character, linking everything throughout the movie together. It is the subject of the interactions between David and his father, Peter. It is also where all of those interactions take place. As I commented previously the piano is where David gains recognition. He is given the opportunity to go to America because of the piano. He is able to study at the Royal College of Music in England with Cecil Parkes (John Gielgud) because of the piano. When he is in the mental institution as an older man, it is the piano that attracts Beryl Ascott (Beverly Dunn) to him. This attraction turns out to be David’s ticket out of the hospital and it eventually allows him to live freely. After Beryl gets David out he goes to the piano bar and makes a name for himself, again. He meets Sylvia (Sonia Todd) at that bar who introduces him to the love of his life, Gillian (Lynn Redgrave). And finally, Gillian helps David get back to the piano and back on stage. The final parts of the film show David’s concert with everyone from his past as the audience. His flawless performance brings the audience to tears and causes David to breakdown, I think, because of the realization that his struggles have come to an end. However, everything at the piano is not happy. Like I said the altercations with his father take place there as well as his original breakdown. The piano, in this film, is a two-faced character changing the tempo and mood of the film throughout.